Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United

[doctor stefan Freud]

We already have GLC who can't get a game for us ahead of Dele as an attacking midfielder. Why do we need to add another? I'd much rather we upgraded on Lucas/a wide forward. It'd make much more sense.

Exactly. This is actually good news for GLC

 

[spursfan77]

We're potentially losing first team players on free transfers, and DL has already spunked a lot of cash on some talented players this summer too. The squad is also bloated at this point. Don't think fans can be angry if we don't splash £100m plus this window.

We should leave it for now, especially at this price and maybe we can revisit in the summer if things change.

You just know there will be a load of people saying typical levy. When in reality we don’t really need the player right now and we need to strengthen in other areas.

 

[JonnySpurs]

I'm personally not reading much into those comments.

We know we bid 60m last summer and it didn't appear to have any bearing on the GLC signing. My understanding was that if Eriksen had gone then we'd have pushed this one over the line.

Affording him is not an issue IMO. We may feel they're asking too much still cos ya know, Levy.

I just think Jose is trying to play down any plans we may have for January. He's never going to admit that we're interested as it potentially draws more attention to the player from our rivals and other clubs in general.

Holding out hope we make a move although The Telegraph apparently reported that we're looking to sign a backup striker and defender in January. If we don't sign Bruno in January then hopefully he stays at Sporting til the summer and we go for him then.

 

[HildoSpur]

Just goes to show that people really don't know yet who or what Jose really wants at the club. On paper at least it looked an obvious move for us but in reality it's a big fat no from Jose.

 

[Japhet]

I think it's simply a case that the player is way overpriced and we have bigger fish to fry. I'd be happy if we got in a quality DM in Jan and a decent LB would be icing on the cake.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Agreed, but Fernandes would offer something different with ball at feet that Dele and others do not (only my opinion) With the likelyhood of Eriksen leaving I wouldn't be against Fernandes. No need to settle for what you have, it maybe working now, but when it doesn't Spurs have lacked a plan 'B' for years.

We might as well send GLC back to Betis in that case.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

We might as well send GLC back to Betis in that case.

Yeah, maybe. Not overly sure what the plan was with him coming into the team, we'll never know the vision Poch had for him.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Yeah, maybe. Not overly sure what the plan was with him coming into the team, we'll never know the vision Poch had for him.

He was brought in to replace Eriksen, I guess. Though ironically Eriksen also has no place in this new direction for us either. Alli is 100% the man to take us into the future in that number 10 position. People think Eriksen and GLC could play in CM but that's not going to happen in any long term plan. We will need a strong Defensive Midfielder to play alongside Ndombele as the ideal combination in CM.

I don't think Eriksen or GLC should be employed in the positions that we have employed Lucas and Son either, which I've seen mentioned a lot. As I've stated elsewhere on here, I think those positions require players with a lick of pace, which is not something you could attribute to either Eriksen nor GLC.

We will need a backup for Alli, and if GLC is happy to be that, that's great - but Bruno Fernandes isn't going to be signed for £75m to be backup for Alli. It's a similar problem we have with Kane. No one wants to sign for us to just watch Kane scoring goals for fun. It's going to be the same with Alli, if he maintains current form.

 

[Japhet]

He was brought in to replace Eriksen, I guess. Though ironically Eriksen also has no place in this new direction for us either. Alli is 100% the man to take us into the future in that number 10 position. People think Eriksen and GLC could play in CM but that's not going to happen in any long term plan. We will need a strong Defensive Midfielder to play alongside Ndombele as the ideal combination in CM.

I don't think Eriksen or GLC should be employed in the positions that we have employed Lucas and Son. As I've stated elsewhere on here, I think those positions require players with a lick of pace, which is not something you could attribute to either Eriksen nor GLC.

We will need a backup for Alli, and if GLC is happy to be that, that's great - but Bruno Fernandes isn't going to be signed for £75m to be backup for Alli. It's a similar problem we have with Kane. No one wants to sign for us to just watch Kane scoring goals for fun. It's going to be the same with Alli, if he maintains current form.

IMO Lo Celso was bought for his versatility and ability to play in a number of positions, one of which happens to be where Eriksen plays. I think his best position is in a 3 man midfield although he can also play further forward on the right. He also had a spell where he played at DM at PSG. I think he's a special player and we'd be incredibly stupid to let him slip through our fingers. I'd much sooner keep him and miss out on Fernandes.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

IMO Lo Celso was bought for his versatility and ability to play in a number of positions, one of which happens to be where Eriksen plays. I think his best position is in a 3 man midfield although he can also play further forward on the right. He also had a spell where he played at DM at PSG. I think he's a special player and we'd be incredibly stupid to let him slip through our fingers. I'd much sooner keep him and miss out on Fernandes.

I can't see him in the DM role personally. Maybe because I haven't seen him enough, but I can't see it. I'd be happy to keep him, he looks a useful squad player. I can't see a position where he would ever become a regular for us, personally... barring any injuries to anyone I suppose. But he's an excellent option to have off the bench, and to give Dele a bit of a rest now and again. If he's happy with being that kind of squad player - happy days.

 

[Japhet]

I can't see him in the DM role personally. Maybe because I haven't seen him enough, but I can't see it. I'd be happy to keep him, he looks a useful squad player. I can't see a position where he would ever become a regular for us, personally... barring any injuries to anyone I suppose. But he's an excellent option to have off the bench, and to give Dele a bit of a rest now and again. If he's happy with being that kind of squad player - happy days.

Wouldn't want him as DM in the EPL. He was OK there for PSG in the 'men against boys' French League, but not here. I was just pointing out that he can play numerous positions, his own least favorite being DM.

 

[dontcallme]

This signing never made sense unless the people in charge genuinely believed he was going to become a level of player that would make him a De Bruyne level of importance.

From a squad point of view surely Ndombele and Lo Celso cover his position and we have a tactical decision to make on how to play them both.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Sounds to me like Mourinho is saying he’s too expensive for us

It's pretty smart actually. If people think you have an endless pile of money to spend they will up the pricetag by £20m.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Agreed, but Fernandes would offer something different with ball at feet that Dele and others do not (only my opinion) With the likelyhood of Eriksen leaving I wouldn't be against Fernandes. No need to settle for what you have, it maybe working now, but when it doesn't Spurs have lacked a plan 'B' for years.

Spending £80m for a player to come in and hang around waiting for your Plan A attacking midfield to not work is pretty hefty stuff when you have two shit full backs and a hole in the heart of your midfield where a quality DM should be.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I don't want to sound like a hater of the guy because he's obviously a very good player, as a portuguese i hope one day portuguese clubs can afford to keep players like him for a longer time but his real value is like beetween 40 and 50m, not 70 ou 80 like Sporting Lisbon wants and you guys need at least one great CB, not midfielders.

I think a great CB can make your team much better like when Liverpool signed Van Dijk, it was impressive how a defender had so much impact on a team.

I agree with this, also I don't know if you watch us regularly Hugo, but we are a bit shit at both right and left full back positions. Ideally we could do with fixing both of those positions too. At the very least a left back. We could, arguably, continue on at CB with Alderweireld (If he signs a new contract) and Sanchez (and Vertonghen in there too, also if he signs a new short term deal).

We are also very weak in the defensive midfield position. Maybe Dier will come good again, but I think Jose will want to bring in an athletic, powerful DM personally.

 

[Johnny J]

Just play GLC instead and spend the money on new full backs and a DM.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Just play GLC instead and spend the money on new full backs and a DM.

Fernandes on paper looks great - two footed, can play short and long penetrative through balls, pin point crosses, free kick specialist both direct and indirect, penalty taker and scored a chunk of goals.

What’s wrong this? The fact that he plays for a poor Sporting team in an horrendous league. Barring Benfica the rest are shite. Look at the once mighty Porto... held at home and beaten away by Rangers. I know Sporting recently turned over PSV but it wasn’t the PSV 1st team and they’re doing poorly this season in the Dutch league.

Taking into account Fernandes’ skill set and offsetting it against the level of football he predominantly plays at under no scenario does this translate to an £85m price tag. He’d be a risk at anything North of £40m.

 

[Johnny J]

Fernandes on paper looks great - two footed, can play short and long penetrative through balls, pin point crosses, free kick specialist both direct and indirect, penalty taker and scored a chunk of goals.

What’s wrong this? The fact that he plays for a poor Sporting team in an horrendous league. Barring Benfica the rest are shite. Look at the once mighty Porto... held at home and beaten away by Rangers. I know Sporting recently turned over PSV but it wasn’t the PSV 1st team and they’re doing poorly this season in the Dutch league.

Taking into account Fernandes’ skill set and offsetting it against the level of football he predominantly plays at under no scenario does this translate to an £85m price tag. He’d be a risk at anything North of £40m.

Whereas GLC has proved himself in La Liga. Fernandes is a decent player but I seriously doubt he'd perform at the same level in the PL.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Spending £80m for a player to come in and hang around waiting for your Plan A attacking midfield to not work is pretty hefty stuff when you have two shit full backs and a hole in the heart of your midfield where a quality DM should be.

Then make him plan A - this squad has been left to drift because the starting eleven were never pushed.

You want to win things having just a starting eleven in this league won't cut it.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Then make him plan A - this squad has been left to drift because the starting eleven were never pushed.

You want to win things having just a starting eleven in this league won't cut it.

So we will have Dele sat on the bench instead? Good stuff. I agree with you, in theory. Not necessarily about Bruno Fernandes, I'm not sure he's better than what we have. But in theory you need two quality players for each position to win stuff - Realistically we're incapable of achieving this. We don't have the finance or pulling power to pull it off.